Protective mask assembly



May 12, 1964 F. KEITH PROTECTIVE MASK ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28, 1961 INVENTOR. LAEQY 1 KEITH ATTORNEYS May 12, 1964 L. F. KEITH 3,132,345

PROTECTIVE MASK ASSEMBLY Filed April 28, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. LARRY F- KEH'H ATTORNEYS May 12, 1964 F. KElTH PROTECTIVE MASK ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 28, 1961 INVENTOR. LARRY F. KEHH QjTmMA MW ATTORNEYE United States Patent C) M 3,132,345 PROTETIVE MASK ASSEMBLY Larry F. Keith, 721 Cooper Drive, Charlotte, N.- Filed Apr. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 106,362 1 Claim. ((Il. 2-9) This invention relates to protective masks for athletes and, more particularly, to an improved protective mask and protective mask assembly especially, although not exclusively, adapted for persons engaging in the sport of baseball.

The usefulness of protective masks in preventing painful and frequently disabling injuries to athletes has been recognized for some time. Nevertheless, the general useage of such masks has not been accepted in many sports, of which baseball is illustrative. Apart from various deficiencies of the prior masks themselves, this reluctance to accept the benefits afforded by protective masks is deemed largely attributable to such masks heretofore requiring supporting means of an unusual appearance and/or cumbersome nature to maintain them in position upon the head of a wearer. As a consequence, wearers of such masks have frequently possessed unconventional, if not grotesque, appearances. Moreover, the procedures for donning and dofiing such masks have necessarily been awkward and time consuming. vConsequently, the use of such masks and the benefits which might be afforded thereby have all too frequently been foregone.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a protective mask assembly free from the foregoing disadvantages and deficiencies in that it will not distract from the appearance of the wearer and may be donned and dotted with speed and facility, and which additionally is lightweight, comfortable, non-distracting to a wearer thereof, and of economical manufacture. Contributing substantially to the realization of these and other advantages of the instant assembly is the utilization therein of a cap member of the type customarily worn by persons engaged in the sport of baseball for supporting a protective mask of novel construction in position upon the wearer. The assembly is primarily adapted and intended for use by persons engaged in the sport of baseball, and is so described and illustrated herein. As will subsequently be apparent, however, the assembly also possesses utility in other activities, such as the sport of softball and some racing events for which baseball-type caps are worn, and therefore no restriction of the invention to the sport of baseball alone is intended or should be made.

A related and more specific object is the provision of a protective mask assembly in which the mask, when worn, is comfortably and securely supported upon the wearer by means connected to the sweat-band of a softcrown baseball-type cap, and in which the mask can be easily and quickly detached from the cap and removed from the wearer when desired. By reason of the arrangement and construction of the instant assembly, the mask thereof can be readily'secured to or detached from the supporting cap without the necessity of removing the latter from the head of the wearer, thereby enhancing the speed and ease with which the mask can be donned and dolfed.

Another object of 'this invention is the provision of a protective mask structure which is readily adjustable so as to conform to the face of either an adult or adolescent wearer, which does not obstruct the vision of a wearer, and which affords maximum protection to not only the face of the wearer, but to other parts of his person as well. More specifically, the instant mask shields the throat as well as the face of the wearer, and additionally 3,132,345 Patented May 12, 1954 is constructed so as to deflect blows and objects away from other unshielded areas of the head of the wearer.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURES l and 2 are, respectively, side and front views of the protective mask assembly in place upon the head of an adult wearer;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the cap member of the assembly shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, with a portion of the sweat band removed therefrom;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the replacement sweat-band member and associated strap member shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are, respectively, side and front views of the protective mask assembly, with the side portions of the mask removed, in place upon the head of an adolescent wearer;

FIGURES 'Z and 8 are, respectively, perspective and rear views of the protective mask assembly shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, but with the cap member not being shown;

FIGURE. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the protective mask assembly shown in FIGURE 6 and taken along substantially line 99 thereof;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged side view of the detachable side portion of the mask shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially along line 11-11 of FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the protective mask assembly generally comprises a cap member 24) and a mask 22, the latter including a frontal portion 24, auxiliary side portions 26, 28, and a depending lower portion 30. Mask 22 is formed of a stiff, nonshattering material capable of withstanding and dissipating shocks and blows to which it might be subjected as, for example, when struck by a baseball. materials possessing these requisite properties are available, that commonly known as Plexiglas is preferred inasmuch as it additionally can be easily formed to a desired shape and is also transparent. The quality of transparency is highly desirable in at least frontal portion 24 0f mask 22 for reasons which will become apparent from the following description thereof.

Frontal portion 24 of mask 22 is arcuately shaped and dimensioned so as to comfortably conform under conditions of actual use to the facial contour of a wearer, such as illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 5 and 6. Side edges 32, 34 of frontal portion 24 overlie and extend along the cheeks of a wearer. Bottom edge 36 lies slightly below and generally follows the jaw line of the wearer. Upper edge 38 of the frontal portion is sinuously curved, extending symmetrically downwardly from a central uppermost point adjacent the bridge of the nose of the wearer to lowermost points beneath the eyes of the wearer, and then upwardly again to merge with side edges 32, 34. It will also be noted that upper edge 38 is curved or flared outwardly away from the face of a wearer, for a purpose to be subsequently discussed, along at least the medial section of its length, for example, between the lowermost points of its heretofore described sinuous contour. Suitable resilient padding 40, such as foam rubber or the like, is adhesively secured to the inner surface of frontal portion 24 of mask 22, i.e., to the surface adjacent the face when the mask is being worn. As best shown in FIG- URE 8, padding 40 extends about the-entire periphery of this inner surface of frontal portion 24, except for the area adjacent the medial section of upper edge 38 which is left unpadded so as to facilitate the circulation of air to and from the nostrils and mouth of a wearer when the mask is worn. Apertures 42 are also provided in frontal- While various portion 24 for this purpose, further insuring that when the mask is worn ample air will be available for inhaling by the wearer and exhaled air will be freely dissipated so as to avoid condensation of moisture upon the inner surface of frontal portion 24. The formation of frontal portion 24 of transparent material, the avoidance of the condensation of moisture thereon, and the curvature of upper edge 38 thereof all insure that the vision of a wearer will be unimpaired, which is a factor of considerable importance.

Secured to frontal portion 24 adjacent bottom edge 36 thereof is depending lower portion 30 of mask 22 which, as seen in FIGURES l, 2, 5 and 6, extends below the jaw and chin of a wearer when the mask is in place, and is adapted to shield the throat. Depending portion 30 is secured to main portion 24 so as to be capable of a limited pivotal movement relative thereto, for a purpose to be subsequently discussed, by means of a strip 43 of semiflexible material, such as relatively hard rubber, which is adhesively secured to the inner surface of frontal portion 24 adjacent bottom edge 36 thereof, and to which depending portion 30 is also adhesively secured as shown (see FIGURE 9). Depending portion 30 may also be provided, as shown, with a plurality of apertures 42 to facilitate the circulation of air.

Auxiliary side portions 26, 28 of mask 22 are intended for use when the mask is worn by an adult, as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, so as to overlie and afford additional protection to the cheeks. Since these side portions are of identical construction except for being of opposite hand, only the side portion 26 shown in FIGURES 10 and 11 will be described. As shov padding 40 of the type hereinbefore described is adhesively secured to the inner surface of side portion 26. Adhesively secured to its outer surface adjacent its edge 46 is a strip 48 of tough flexible material, such as leather or elastic, which carries the male halves 50' of a plurality of snap fasteners 50. Permanently recessed within the outer surface of frontal portion 24 adjacent edge 32 thereof are the mating female halves 50" of snaps 50. It will be apparent that when snaps 50 are fastened, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, auxiliary side portions 26, 28 of mask 22 will not only be securely held to frontal portion 24, but additionally the contiguous edges of these portions will be approximately planar (see FIGURE 10) so that the outer surface of the mask will be substantially continuous and smooth. When mask 22 is worn by an adolescent, such as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 and for whom the additional protection afforded by auxiliary side portions 26, 28 is not necessary due to there being a smaller facial area to shield, the auxiliary side portions of the mask are removed from the remainder thereof and not utilized. This removal can obviously be quickly and easily accomplished through the simple expedient of unfastening snaps 50.

Before describing the remainder of the instant assembly, several particularly significant advantages of the mask construction thus far explained should be noted. One such advantage is that mask 22 shields and protects not only the nose, cheeks, mouth and chin of a wearer, but the wearers throat as well. A blow such as might be sustained by reason of being struck with a baseball is usually at least as disabling when received in the throat as when received in the face. The provision of depending lower portion 30 in the instant mask construction decreases, if not altogether obviates, the possibility of such a blow being received. Portion 30 shields a substantial portion of the throat of the wearer at all times and substantially the entirety thereof when the Wearers head is depressed, such as it would be when, for instance, fielding a ground ball, a time during which blows to the throat have heretofore been frequently sustained. The throatshielding function of portion 30 is in no way impaired by the heretofore described pivotal connection between this member and frontal portion 24, since connecting strip 43 is constructed of sufficiently rigid material as to prevent portion 30 from being forced inwardly to the extent that it would engage the throat of a wearer of the mask. The

provision for some limited pivotal movement of portion 30 when a blow is received thereon, however, has been found to be of assistance in preventing or discouraging unseating of the mask from the face of a wearer. It will be apparent that since portion 30 is not backed to any appreciable extent by the body of a wearer of the mask, a blow thereonparticularly upon the lowermost end thereofwould tend to unseat the mask by tilting upper edge 38 of frontal portion 24 away from the face of the wearer. This tendency is reduced by portion 30 being capable of limited pivotal movement. Another particularly noteworthy feature of the instant mask construction is the heretofore mentioned outward curvature possessed by upper edge 38 of frontal portion 24, which curvature has been found to have the effect of deflecting blows or objects striking on or adjacent the upper edge away from unshielded areas of the face of a wearer of the mask. Absent such curvature, balls or other objects striking on or adjacent edge 38 of frontal portion 24 might be deflected into the eyes or forehead of the wearer of the mask as a consequence of which serious injuries might still be received. The instant construction reduces the possibility of such an unfortunate result occurring.

As mentioned initially herein, the benefits afforded by protective masks have not been generally realized in many sports since the persons engaging therein have felt that the limitations associated with the various type supporting means for the masks outweighed the protective advantages. One such sport has been baseball, and with the foregoing in mind the instant invention contemplates a protective mask assembly including a baseball-type cap member for comfortably supporting the mask in position upon the wearer, and by virtue of which the mask can be donned and dotfed by the wearer as desired with speed and facility.

Referring once again to the drawings, the cap member 20 of the instant assembly is of the type customarily employed by persons engaging in the sport of baseball and includes the usual soft crown portion 21 and semi-rigid bill portion 23. As presently manufactured, caps of the instant type are also provided with a flexible sweat band of leather or the like which is secured, as by stitching, within and adjacent the peripheral edge of the crown portion. In the cap member 20 illustrated in FIGURE 3, approximately the entire forward half of this original sweat band, identified by the numeral 51, has been removed and in lieu thereof a replacement sweat-band member 54, which may be formed of a material similar to that of the original sweat band 51, is provided. Sweat-band member 54 has a length equal to approximately one-half the circumference of crown portion 21 of cap 20, and is provided at each end with integral depending flap members 56. Spaced along the length of sweat-band member 54 are the male halves 52' of a plurality of snap fasteners 52, the mating, correspondingly spaced female halves 52" of which are secured to crown portion 21 of cap member 20. Snap fasteners 52 provide the means by which replacement sweat-band member 54 is secured within and to cap member 20, and when so secured (see FIGURES 1, 2, 5, 6 and 9) depending flap members 20 spacedly oppose each other and overlie opposite upper areas of the head of a wearer using the assembly.

Secured to each flap 56 adjacent the free lower end thereof is the male portion 58' of another snap fastener 58. The mating female portions 58" of the snaps 58 are adjustably mounted in a well known manner upon flexible strap members 60, which are preferably formed of a tough elastic or stretchable material. Secured to the terminal portion of each strap 60 opposite the end thereof upon which snap 58 is disposed is a reinforcing tip 62 of leather or the like, upon which is mounted the male portion 64' of a snap fastener 64. The female portions 64" of snaps 64 are recessed within the outer surface of frontal portion 24 of mask 22 adjacent the juncture of each side edge thereof with upper edge 38.

. the wearer.

As shown in FIGURE 10, auxiliary side portions 26, 28 of mask 22 are each provided with a slot-like aperture 66. When the auxiliary side portions are being utilized in the instant mask assembly, such as shown in FIGURE 1, straps 60 extend through apertures 66 and assist in maintaining the auxiliary side portions snugly in place against the checks of the wearer of the assembly.

When cap 20 is worn in a customary manner and snaps 58 and 64 are fastened, mask 22 will be comfortably yet securely maintained in proper position upon the head of a wearer. The restraining forces exerted through sweatband member 54 and straps 60 urge mask 22 both inwardly and upwardly relative to the face of a wearer. These forces are counteracted, so that the mask remains stationary upon the head of the wearer, by the interaction between the wearers face and padding 40. The padding 40 adjacent bottom edge 36 of frontal portion 24, which as noted previously is disposed slightly below the jaw of the wearer, particularly opposes the upward component of the restraining forces exerted upon the mask, with the result that bottom edge 36 and depending portion 30 of mask 22 are firmly retained in their desired positions.

It might frequently be desirable for one engaging in the sport of baseball to temporarily remove the mask of the instant assembly from his person. This might be desired, for instance, when the player is inactive in the dugout or when running bases. With the instant assembly, such removal can be accomplished with speed and facility merely by unfastening snaps 58. Cap member 20 need not be taken from the head of the wearer or otherwise disturbed in effecting such removal, since it is contemplated that sweat-band member 54, once secured within cap member 20, will remain permanently associated therewith until such time as one or the other of the members becomes defective due to wear. It will be appreciated that sweat-band member 54 does not detract from either the appearance or comfort of cap member 20, since the member is comparable to the original sweat-band of the cap except for the additional presence of flaps 56, which are of an inconspicuous size and also formed of flexible material. Donning of mask 22 can be accomplished with the same ease and rapidity as dofling thereof, simply by holding the mask to the face and refastening snaps 58.

Although not essential to the instant assembly, an additional strap member 68 may be provided if desired to further assist in maintaining the protective mask in position upon the head of a wearer. Strap 68 may be formed of material similar to that of straps 60 and is provided with reinforcing tips '70 at its opposite ends. Each tip 70 carries the male half 72 of a snap fastener 72, the female halves 72" of snaps 72 being recessed within the outer surface of frontal portion 24 of mask 22 and adjacent the side edges thereof. When strap 68 is employed and snaps 72 are fastened, the strap passes about the base of the skull of the wearer, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 5, and 6 and urges mask 22 inwardly toward the face of The presence of strap 68 does not appreciably impair the above-discussed facility with which mask 22 may be donned and dotfed, since only a single snap 72 need be fastened or unfastened to engage or disengage the strap.

The provision of a replacement sweat band such as the member 54 described is deemed desirable in that it permits baseball type caps currently on the market and in use to be readily modified for utilization in the instant assembly, and additionally permits salvaging of either the band member or cap member should the other member become defective due to wear. No restriction of the invention to the use of a replacement sweat band is intended, however, since it is readily apparent that in caps hereafter constructed the original sweat band might be provided with flaps and/or fasteners along the lines described herein.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claim.

That which is claimed is:

A protective mask adapted to be worn on the head of a wearer, said mask being formed of a stiff nonshattering transparent material and comprising a frontal portion adapted to shield the face of the wearer, said frontal portion having a pair of side edges and an upper and a lower edge, said side edges of said frontal portion being adapted to overlie the checks of the wearer, said frontal portion having a concavedly curved inner surface and a convexedly curved outer surface between said side edges, said upper edge of said frontal portion being symmetrically curved between said side edges thereof from a central uppermost point adapted to overlie the bridge of the nose of the wearer to lowermost points beneath the eyes of the wearer and the medial length of said upper edge being flared outwardly away from the face of the wearer, said lower edge of said frontal portion extending between said side edges thereof and being adapted to lie adjacent the jaw of the wearer, resilient padding means adhesively secured to said concavedly curved inner surface of said frontal portion adjacent said side and lower edges thereof for spacing said frontal portion from the face of the wearer, a lower portion disposed beneath said frontal portion and adapted to shield the throat of the wearer, resilient means interconnecting said lower portion and said frontal portion whereby said lower portion is capable of limited pivotal movement relative to said frontal portion, a pair of auxiliary side portions, and means detachably connecting said auxiliary side portions to said frontal portion at opposite side edges thereof, said auxiliary side portions being adapted to extend from said side edges of said frontal portion toward the ears of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 173,067 Hagemeyer et al Sept. 21, 1954 571,437 Gray Nov. 17, 1896 899,334 Seitzman Sept. 22, 1908 1,170,462 Schroeder Feb. 1, 1916 1,438,171 Delson Dec. 12, 1922 2,067,657 Bullard Jan. 12, 1937 2,204,688 McClung et a1. June 18, 1940 2,462,258 Dannenberg Feb. 22, 1949 2,535,434 Marietta Dec. 26, 1950 2,616,081 Weaver et a1. Nov. 4, 1952 2,627,602 Goldsmith Feb. 10, 1953 2,881,442 Sowle Apr. 14, 1959 

